The two-day London Diamond League meet held at Crystal Palace, ended Saturday, Aug. 6 with several interesting storylines and revelations as athletes prepare for the 2011 Daegu World Championships starting in three weeks on August 27 and running through September 4. The meet was highlighted by impressive performances by Yohan Blake and Kaliese Spencer (Jamaica), Kirani James (Grenada), Sally Pearson (Australia), Carmelita Jeter, Walter Dix and Sanya Richards-Ross (USA).
The London meet was the 12th stop of the 14-meet Diamond League tour, and the last one prior to Daegu; therefore, many athletes used it as a benchmark to gauge their fitness level for The World Championships. The following are some things we learned as that meet concluded.
Kaliese Spencer is The Real Deal
Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer, the 2010 women’s 400m hurdles Diamond League winner who is having a superb 2011 season, ran a personal best 52.79secs in the women’s 400m hurdles to finish well ahead of her countrywoman, the reigning Olympic and World champion Melanie Walker (53.90). Spencer was simply dominant, and her winning time indicates that she could be a real threat to the 33-year-old world record of 52.34. Spencer has a season best 50.71 in the flat 400m and has indicated that she was using that event to help in her preparation for the 400m hurdles. The plan has worked, and Spencer’s London performance has now solidified her as the favorite for the 400m hurdles title in Daegu.
Kirani James Emerges Front-Runner
The men’s 400m was considered the most wide-open event in which Grenada’s Rondell Bartholomew’s world-leading time of 44.65secs stood for four months, until 18-year-old Kirani James entered London and delivered a personal best and world-leading performance of 44.61 in his professional debut to beat a quality field. Jermaine Gonzales (Jamaica) was second in 44.85 and Bahamas’s Chris Brown finished third in 45.04. Kirani’s time of 44.61 now makes him one of the favorites for Daegu. The lanky teen, who struggled to go sub-45 (outdoor) until this season, has an impressive resume at the junior level and is now poised to dominate the men’s 400m at the senior level.
Yohan Blake is Ready for Daegu
For the month of July, Yohan Blake was missing in action after his second-place finish behind Asafa Powell at the June 26 Jamaica Trials. Prior to that, Blake ran a wind-aided 9.80secs at the May 7 Jamaica International Invitational, an IAAF World Challenge meeting, in Kingston Jamaica, which propelled him into medal discussion about the 100m in Daegu. The 21-year-old Blake resurfaced in London over the weekend, and in the absence of Asafa Powell, proceeded to use the Crystal Palace venue to conduct one of his training exercises. Blake, who was never seriously challenged in the race, won the event in 9.95 (-1.6ws) ahead of compatriot Nesta Carter (10.01) and Mike Rodgers of the US (10.04). With a personal best 9.89 in the 100m, Yohan Blake is on target for Daegu.
Jeter Solidifies Her Status as Favorite
With every race she has run so far, USA’s Carmelita Jeter is solidifying her status as the woman to beat in the Daegu women’s 100m. The 32-year-old California-born Jeter who has a season best 10.70secs, won in London in 10.93secs ahead of Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste (10.97) and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (11.10). Jeter was slow out of the blocks behind Baptiste and Fraser-Pryce but used her acceleration-phase to overpower the others for the victory. The stronger and confident Jeter is having the season of her life, and has extended her exploits to the 200m, in which she has a season and personal best 22.20. She has dreams of taking the Daegu 100m/200m double.
The Men’s 200m Still Belongs to Bolt
USA’s Walter Dix recently made known his intention to topple Usain Bolt from the pinnacle of sprinting. Dix, who has a PB 19.69secs in the 200m, won in London in 20.16 (-2.0 ws) ahead of Jamaica’s Warren Weir (20.43) and Panama’s Alonso Edwards (20.55). Bolt, who is experiencing a sub-par season and who has the world leading 19.86 in the 200m, has not been himself after suffering back injury. Dix’s winning time of 20.16 is a long way from 19.86, but he has three weeks to fine-tune his plans to capture 200m glory in Daegu.
Richards-Ross Not Willing To Give Up Title Easily
Just when we were ready to crown Botswana’s Amantle Montsho Daegu winner of the women’s 400m prior to the event itself, along comes USA’s Sanya Richards-Ross with a 49.66 world-leading performance. Richard-Ross made-up the stagger on the back-stretch and came into the home-stretch with a lead that she did not relinquish. Jamaica’s Rose-Marie Whyte (49.84, PB) was second with compatriots Novelene Williams (50.46) and Shericka Williams (50.64) in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Richard-Ross’s performance immediately throws her in as one of the favorites, having turned around a season in which she has had some dismal performances.
Dayron Robles Wants Daegu Gold
Cuba’s Dayron Robles, the men’s 110m hurdles world record-holder has already signaled his return from injury and has made his intention known that he is ready for Daegu glory. The technically sound Robles won the 110m hurdles in 13.04secs while fighting off the fast-improving Jason Richardson (13.08) of the US. David Oliver (US) was third in 13.19. Robles missed the 2009 Berlin World championship due to injury, but now he is a clear favorite for 110m hurdles title in Daegu, despite not having a sub-13secs performance this season.
Sally Pearson a Cut above the Rest
Over the past month, Australia’s Sally Pearson has the track and field world abuzz with her impressive performances. During this time she established a PB and world-leading 12.48secs in the women’s 100m hurdles. She is obviously in the best shape of her life. Her speed between the hurdles along with her smooth technique and aggressive approach is proving to be a nightmare for her opponents. With a winning time of 12.55 to beat a quality field just three weeks prior to Daegu, Pearson confirms that she is, indeed, the one to beat.
Trinidad’s Baptiste Having Season of Her Life
Heading into the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Trials the weekend of August 13-14, Trinidad’s sprinting ace and women’s 100m national record-holder, Kelly-Ann Baptiste ran 10.97secs for second place behind Jeter. Over the past four weeks, Baptiste had a couple of wins in France, set a season best 10.91 and defeated Jamaica’s national champion Veronica Campbell-Brown. In her current form, Baptiste is set to make the 100m finals in Daegu, but first, she will have to contend with Semoy Hackett and a group of young sprinters at her country’s national trials.
Fraser Pryce Uses London as Another Training Exercise
Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce got a great start and a good drive-phase, and relaxed during her acceleration-phase to cruise home in 11.10secs behind Jeter (10.93) and Baptiste (10.97). Fraser-Pryce, the reigning World and Olympic 100m champion who had a slight foot problem at the end of June, has not been displaying the form that we are so used to seeing this time three and two years ago. However, she has three weeks to tweak and to make the necessary adjustments to be ready for Daegu. Despite Fraser Pryce’s average performance in London, she always shows up for major championships. With a season best 10.95 in the 100m and 22.69 in the 200m, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce may have used London as simply another training exercise.
Kenia Sinclair in Great Shape
Although finishing second in 1:59.16 behind winner Great Britain’s Jenny Meadows (1:58.60) and experiencing her first 800m defeat this season, Jamaica’s Kenia Sinclair proofs that she is in very good shape. She has run several impressive 1500m this season for strength work, went into London undefeated in the 800m, and used the opportunity to work on her speed. She went out very quickly, challenging the rabbit and took control of the race by the 600m mark but could not hold off the late-charging Meadows. The win would have been great for Sinclair, but the 800m final in Daegu may be a tactical race. With the absence of a rabbit, Sinclair may need to lead the pack or come from behind to capture 800m glory.